FORCE LOWERS NHRA NATIONAL RECORD TO 4.763
John Force did everything but win at Route 66 Raceway. Force, the 10-time Winston Funny Car Champion, was the No. 1 qualifier, broke his own NHRA national record for quarter mile time, posted the quickest two runs on race day and raised the Route 66 track speed record to 321.19 miles per hour -- only to lose in the final round by .002 of a second.

The 94-time NHRA tour winner lost the quickest side-by-side race in Funny Car history, 4.805 to 4.811 seconds. Nevertheless, Force increased his lead to 198 points in his bid to claim a record-breaking 11th Funny Car title. During qualifying, Force lowered the official NHRA national record to 4.763 seconds. On race day, he ran 4.853 seconds, 4.773, 4.771 and 4.805, the quickest sequence in history -- and still lost for the fourth time in six 2001 finals. (Jeff Burk photo)

RUPP, PROVOAST INTO MICHIGAN MOTOR SPORTS HALL OF FAME
The Board of Directors of the Michigan Motor Sports Hall of Fame has announced the inductees for 2001. They include famed drag racers Al Provoast and Maynard Rupp Jr. Also inducted were Ray Baker, a renowned racing engine builder and designer; the late Porky Burkholder, one of the founders of Whittemore Speedway; oval track drivers Bob Clover, the late Ray Daniels, Dick Slade, and Buddy Stewart. Figure Eight racer Bob Studt and sprint car driver Bill Tyler.

BARTONE TURNS LEFT AND RIGHT
Turning the wheel while driving is not a good thing in drag racing, but Tony Bartone gave it a try when he participated in the Grand-Am Cup Street Stock Series at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Bartone and fellow teammate, Jeff Altenburg, drove the #32 Corvette to a third place finish after setting the quickest time in an afternoon practice session at 1:33:255 with an average speed of 87.187 miles per hour.

Although the speed is considerably less than he is used to running in his Raw is War/Triple H Pontiac Firebird Funny Car, Bartone enjoys the differences in the two types of motorsports.

“Road racing is something I do for personal gratification,” said Bartone. “The biggest difference between drag racing and road racing is the amount of time spent behind the wheel. Road racing requires a large amount of endurance due to the fact drivers are in the cars for an extended period of time at 85-90 miles per hour, while a drag race lasts less than five seconds at 300 miles per hour.”

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